How to Choose a Sublimation Paper

Way back in 2010 we did a 2 part series detailing everything you needed to know about choosing a sublimation paper. Eight years later (doesn’t time just fly) it seemed like a good idea to summarize some of what was in that series in an effort to help a new group of sublimation printers make their paper choices. The original posts are still very relevant and worth reading in full, so if you’re inclined, please take a moment to read Part 1 and Part 2. If you’re short on time, this summary will give you the basics.

To begin, let’s talk about the three categories into which we at EnMart divide sublimation paper. Our categories may be different than those other suppliers use, but our experience has shown these category designations to be accurate, so they’re the ones we use. In our experience, sublimation paper is either

High release

Low or Standard Release

Hybrid (combines properties of both)

High Release paper typically requires less time to press to release the majority of the ink onto the substrate. This type of paper tends to work well for soft goods and may provide slightly superior color transfer. One of the main issues with this paper may be smearing, as high release paper tends not to dry quickly. You may also experience “blow out” on hard goods like ceramic tiles of FRP key chains, as the dye may be released so quickly that the harder materials can’t absorb it fast enough. High release paper may also be more prone to curling, printer jams, humidity and other environmental issues.

Low or standard release paper is pretty much the opposite of high release paper. It dries quickly, so smearing issues are minimal. This type of paper works very well with hard goods and has little instance of “blow out”. A potential drawback of low release paper is that it takes far more time in a press to draw the dye out. Extensive time in a heat press can cause damage to or yellowing of coatings or fabrics, but shortening the press time could result in colors that are less vibrant than desired. On the positive side, low release paper does tend to be resistant to jams and other environmental factors.

Hybrid paper, as the name implies, combines the qualities of both high and low release papers. Some hybrid papers are more on the high release send of the spectrum while other are similar to low release paper. The goal with this type of paper is to capitalize on the good points of both the other types of paper while minimizing the down side. Based on our experience, hybrid papers tend to be the best for all around use on all substrates.

If you’re wondering what type of paper Mpres Paper, the sublimation paper that EnMart sells is, it’s a hybrid paper. The time required in a heat press is closer to the high release end of the spectrum, but it mimics the low release papers in it’s capacity for quick drying to eliminate smearing, and the excellent release of color. This is the paper that our parent company, Ensign Emblem uses to create sublimated patches every day. It’s been battle tested and proven worthy and we highly recommend it.